Golf game apparatus



July 14,` 1959 G. slMJlAN GOLF GAME APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filedoct. 1o, 1955 4, SENSANG 4 l l 2li; A,

INVENTOR LUTHER G slMJlAN A ATTORNEY July 14, 1959 L. G. slMJlAN com`GAME APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. l0, 1955 AQ. f//'/////////LUTHER e'. sum/AN INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 14, A1959 l.. G. slMJlAN2,894,750

GOLF GAME APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 10, 1955I FIG. lo

FIGA. I3

N M IU .M S G. R E H T U L INVENTOR ATTORNEY July 14, 1959 Filed 0G13.l0, 1955 FIG. I4

l.. G. 'slMJlAN GOLF GAME APPARATUS BY l/ 4 Sheets-*Sheet 4 LUTHER G.SIMJIAN INVENTOR ATTORNEY United Srates Patent VG GOLF lGAll/illJAPPARATUS Luther G. Simjian, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to TheyRetlectone Corporation, Stamford, Conn., a corporation of ConnecticutApplication October 10, 1955, Serial No. 539,328

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-181) This invention relates to a game apparatus whichprovides a means for practicing game operations ina restricted spaceindoors. These operations involve projecting missiles such as'a golfball, ,base ball, or foot ball. The invention has particular referenceto a target means which receives the impact of a missile and a displaydevice which shows the approximate path the missile would have taken infree night. Y

Many game devices have been devised andconstructed for determining thepath of a Afree missile, some of which use a captive ball, and some ofVwhich use a free, ball with various designs of targets. All of thesedevices are for use within a restricted space so that the action maytake place indoors. VPrior measuringvdevices such as golf games have allsuffered from the absence of an adequate vindicating device for showing7theplayer information regarding the results of his eiorts. Some ofthemore elaborate devices'ernployed a plurality of electromechanicaldevices and motors for giving an indication of the approximate pathy ofthe 'missile- The present 'invention employs a free ball to more closelyapproximate natural playing conditions and in additionemploys a displaymeans for showing the Vplayer the approximate path of the missile on aplaying iield. l

The present invention is designed to eliminate all the complicatedcomputing devices and electronic components which have been employed insome ofthe prior art devices. The target is adapted to be bodilydisplaced'by the force of the missile striking vit and a single motor isemployed to return the target to its starting position and in so doingactivate the display means to show the path of the missile. l v l,

One'of the objects Vof this invention is to provide a gameappa'ratuswhich avoids one or more of thedisadvantages and limitationsof prior art devices. v

Anotherf'object of the vinv'entionfis to reduce the cornplexity ofthesensing 'and computing means for showing the path of a propelled missilein free night.

Another 'object of the invention is to provide a miniature playing fieldincluding all components, and then show th'e'path of a miniature missileon the field as it would have occurred in free flight.

Another object of the invention'is to provide a target for determiningthe horizontal and vertical components of the' missiles direction. p

nother'object "of theinvention is to providea bodily movable targetwhich will be displaced by the force of the impact of the missile yandwhich `indicates the apprximate velocity of the missile by itsdisplacement.

Another object of the invention is to enable a player tot'attainproficiency in projecting a missile by practicing indoors and thenseeingthe result of his play on a miniature playing field.

The invention comprises a game apparatus which includes Va 'bodilymovable target which interceptsithe missile. and is displaced from `astarting position by the force of the missile. 'Thetarget contains meansfor sensing the pos'tionlfimpact and a'control means connected to the-2,894,750 Patented July 14, 1959 ICC target selectively sets koperatingmeans `which are` responsive to the spaced position. Anothercontrol'means is set by the displacement of the target from its startingposition and a power driven means operates a display device to describea path in response to both control means, said path being a curverelated to the 'trajectory of the missile in free flight. l i

One feature of theinvention includes a miniature playing held in threedimensions with a miniature missile which is controlled to move slowlyin the approximate path the projected missile would have taken in freeflight.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with otherand further objects thereof, reference is made to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. t

Fig. 1 is a side View of the game apparatus showing some parts insection.

Fig. 2 is a front View of a target, with the cover removed, showing thearrangement of collapsible tubes for sensing the impact of a missile. Y

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the target shown inFig. 2. j,

Fig. 4 is a front View of an alternate formof target which includescrossed sensing wires and a plurality of electrical contacts controlledby the wires.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the target shown inFig. 4 and shows two of the springs and contacts used in the target.

Fig. 6 is a graph showing some of the trajectories described by theminiature ball on the miniature held.

Fig. 7 is `a side view, with some parts in section, kof a portion of thesensing and control unit shown in Fig. `1.

Fig. 8 is a plan View of the miniature playing field taken along line 83 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is another portion of the sensing and control system shown inFig. l and includes the sensing means for determining the horizontalcomponent of the impact of the missile. l

Fig. 10 is a side view of the control means shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a cross sectional view of a sensing pin employed to translatea portion of the sensed information from the target. j

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 11 but showing thesensing pin in its operative position. l

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view of that portion of the sensing andcontrol component shown in Fig. 7 and is taken along line 13-13 of thatfigure. o

Fig. 14 is a graph indicating a plurality of trajectories which may beprovided by a cam shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 15 is a side view, with some parts in section, showing an alternateform of sensing pin operated by the contact means shown in Figs. 4 and5.

Fig. 16 is a schematic diagram of connections showing a relay with alocking circuit which is used to retain a sensing pin in its operatedposition. I

Fig. 17 is a plan view, with some parts in section, showing 'a lightprojector and a viewing screen which may be used to show the path of amissile in free Hight. Fig. 18 is a front View of the viewing screenshown in Fig. 17. v

Referring now to Fig. 1, a ball 20 is supported upon a tee 21 on ya base22 in a position for driving by a golf club., While this figure shows agolf ball and a miniature golf course, it will be obvious that thedevice may be used to show the approximate path taken by a baseball or.a football or any other type of projected missile. The ball 20 ispropelled in the general direction shownby arrow 23 and hits a target24, the force ofthis impact causing the target to move to the rear anamount which yis proportional to the balls velocity.V The target dissupported on one or more supports 25 which in turn are secured to a base26, containing friction pads 27 and 28, moving on a sub-base 30. Thetarget 24 is connected to a sensing and control unit 31 by communicatinglines 32. These lines may be either a system of wires carrying currentor a plurality of rubber tribes which transmit changes in Huid pressureto the sensing and control unit 31. A pawl 33 is pivotally mounted onsupport 25 and engages a ratchet bar 34. A rod 35 is also connected tosupport 25 and sets a cam in the sensing and control unit 31.

A miniature playing eld 36 is supported on a base 37 and includes aminiature ball 33, a green lil which includes a cup and a flag, andother features of the `usual golf course such as trees and bunkers whichare usually found on this type of playing iield. The base 37 is securedto a vertical wall 4l which also supports an arm 42 which includes apulley 43 and a pivot support 44. The ball 3S is attached to a string 45which is connected to the sensing and control means 31 by means of oneor more pulleys. The string 45 controls the height of the ball andpasses through a loop 46 attached to another string 47 which is alsoconnected to the sensing and control means 31 and which controls thelength of travel of the ball and its direction. The end of string 47 issecured to a helical spring 48 which keeps the string in tension andreturns it to its original position during a resetting operation.

In order to control the direction of travel of the miniature ball aframe 50 is pivoted by pivots 5l and 52.. The movement of this trarne iscontrolled by a portion of the sensing and control unit which is shownin Figs. 9 and l0.

The motive power for moving the target 2d back to its starting positionis provided by a motor 52A which turns a shaft 53 coupled to a drum 54on which is placed an endless belt 55. lThe belt 55 also passes over anidler drum 56 and contains lugs 57 and 58. Power for operating the motoris provided by connecting terminals 61 to a source of electric power,these terminals being connected in series with the motor and two pairsof contacts 62 and 63 which are in parallel with one another. Contacts62 are operated by one of the lugs 57 or 58 when vthe endless belt 55 isbeing moved and the second pair of contacts 63 is controlled by thetarget base 26. Since these two pairs of contacts are connected inparallel it will be obvious that the motor 52A is shut off only whenboth pairs of contacts are open. Lugs 57 and 58 also operate fingers and64 which are connected to portions of the sensing and control unit 31and will be described later.

Figs. 2 and 3 show one type of target which may be employed to sense theposition of the missiles impact. The target comprises a base 66, aplurality of horizontal rubber tubes 67, and a plurality of verticaltubes 68. It has been found that a sponge rubber covering placed on topof the crossed tubes helps to absorb the energy of the ball and preventsit from rebounding toward the player. This covering has been omittedfrom Fig. 2 in order to show the arrangement of sensing tubes. Each ofthe tubes 67 and 65 are collected in a bundle 32 (Fig. l) and areterminated in the sensing and control unit. When the ball strikes target66 one ot' the vertical tubes 63 and one of the horizontal tubes 67 iscollapsed by the force of the missile and a pressure pulse istransmitted to the sensing and control unit.

Figs. 4 and 5 show an alternate form of target including a frame 72which holds a plurality of steel wires 73 arranged in vertical array andterminating at the bottom portion of frame 72 in a series of contacts 74and springs 75. The frame also contains a plurality of horizontal wires76 terminating in similar contacts and springs at the right hand side ofthe target frame. Fig. 5 shows the details of the contact arrangement.When a missile strikes one of the wires contact member 74 is pulled intoengagement with two contacts points 77 thereby completing a circuit bywhich a pulse is transmitted to the sensing and control unit to operatea relay and its associated electromagnet.

The sensing and control unit 31 includes a mechanical cam 80 which ismounted on a pivot 81 `and is set by rod 39 coupled through a pin andslot connection 29 to rod 35. Rod 35 is secured to target 24 and ismoved only when the target is moved. In its normal unactuated positioncam 80 is flush with the top surface of a base plate 82 and whenactuated by the movement of target 24 it moves above the surface of base82 in a slot 83, such an actuated position being shown by dotted linesS4. When the cam 80 is set by the movement of target 24- its setposition is maintained by a pawl 85 engaging teeth in a ratchet bar 86.When the operation is over, cam 30 is reset to its normal position bythe disengaging of the pawl 85 from the ratchet 86 by means of anelectromagnet S7, the normalizing action being controlled by spring S8.

On top of plate 82 is a bar 90 supported by rollers 91 and adapted to bemoved along the top surface of the base except when intercepted by thecam 80. When cam 30 is set in a position controlled by the movement ofthe target 24, the right hand roller 91 rides up and down over the top`surface of cam 80 thereby moving string 45 to control the height of theminiature ball in the miniature display 36 and also to pull string 47 tothe left in Fig. 7 and move the ball 38 to the right as shown in Fig. 1to indicate the length of drive. The end `of string 45 is secured to abar 92 which in turn is mounted on a slide member 93, movably mounted onbar 90, and controlled in position by a rod 94 which is connected to asensing means similar to those shown in Figs. 5 and 10 but controlled bythe horizontal array in the target 24 which senses the height of theposition of impact. lf the ball is driven from the tee at an optimumvertical angle of about 45 degrees the sensing means on the target willposition the slide member 93 at a position on bar which is approximatelyadjacent to the right hand roller 91 and then when bar 90 is pulled tothe left as shown in Fig. 7 the display will cause the ball 38 to movein one of the paths 95 as shown in Fig. 14, the length of the path beingcontrolled by the displacement of the target. If the target sensingmeans senses a vertical component which is only 25 degrees from thehorizontal, the slide member 93 will be positioned to the left of theright hand roller 91, and because of the reduced leverage, the displaymeans 36 will show a path similar to one of the trajectories 96, shownin dashed lines in Fig. 6. Conversely, if the sensed position on thetarget indicates that the ball was started at a vertical angle of 69degrees, then the slide member 93 will be moved considerably to theright of the right hand roller 91 and because of this additionalleverage the display means will cause the ball to move in a path whichis similar to one of the paths 97 shown in Fig. 6.

The sensing arrangement shown in Fig. 9 comprises a lever 100 pivoted at101 and stressed by a spring 102. The free end of the lever is adaptedto pass over a plurality of sensing pins 103 positioned in a base 104which is formed as part of a circle. In its normal or zero positionlever 100 is held in the position shown in Fig. 9 by a normalizing bar105. As soon as the operation starts and the ball 20 hits target 24, oneof the pins 103 is raised by the air pressure in tube 68 and is latchedinto operating position by latch plate 106. A short time interval afterthe impact lug 58 moves finger 64 to the left, normalizing bar 105 ismoved to the right as shown in Fig. 9, due to a linkage (not shown)between the bar and the nger 64 in the sensing and control unit 31. Thisaction moves lever 100 under the influence of spring 102counter-clockwise until it rests against the actuated pin 103. This samemotion (moti-on of lever 100) moves frame 50 and carries with it plate107 which holds the two pulleys holding strings 4S and 47. The abovedescribed action determines the l,direction in which the apaga/:oV

5 miniature ball 38 will be moved.4 After the ballhasbeen moved andallthe components have been normalized, latchv plate 106 is given a shorttransverse movement and the pin 103 is dropped into its unactuatedposition.

A similar set of sensing pins and a similar sensing lever are employedto sense the height of the balls impact on the target. This apparatus isnot shown because of its similarity to the details shown in Figs. 9, 10,11, and 12. The lever which senses the vertical component of the impactposition is coupled to rod 94 and positions the slide member 93 on bar90.

The pins shown in Figs. 1l and 12 are operated by air pressure which istransmitted to a plurality of rubber tires 68 connected to a target, thedetails of which are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The pins are connected topistons 69 and are stressed by springs 79. If a target having crossedwires and electrical contacts, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is employed,an electromagnetic sensing arrangement is used as shown in Figs. l5 and16. In this arrangement, each set Aof wires from the target contacts 77is connected to an electromagnet 108, either directly or in series witha relay 110. Each electromagnet is secured to base plate 104 andincludes a winding 111 and a plunger armature 112. When contacts 77 areconnected, the electromagnet is actuated and the armature 112 is raisedabove plate 104 to intercept and Aposition lever 100 when it isreleased.

In order to retain armatures 112 in their raised position the wires fromcontacts 77 are connected to a relay 113 in series with a source ofpotential 114 and a normalizing switch 115. With switch 115 closed, andcontacts 77 connected, a circuit may vbe traced from the positive sourceof potential, through contacts 77, through relay Winding 113, back tothe negative terminal of the battery in series with switch 115. Thiscurrent actuates the relay and closes two contacts 116 and 117. Contacts116 connect the source of potential 114 to the Winding 108 and cause thearmature to be raised. Contacts 117 are locking contacts'and complete acircuit which may be traced from the positive terminal of the source ofpotential, through contacts 117, through winding 113, through the switch115, to the negative terminal of the source of potential. This circuitretains the armature 112 in its elevated position until switch 115 isopened.

The display device 36 shown in Figs. l vand 8 is the preferredembodiment since it indicates the path of a missile in free flight inthree dimensions. However, if limitations of space prohibit such adisplay, a projection system as shown in Fig. 17 may be used to show thepath of a missile on a viewing screen 118. The projection system ismounted on a base 120 and comprises a lamp 121, a condensing lens system122, a diaphragm 123, and a projection lens 124. The base 120 iscontrolled by a motor 125 to move the system about a pivot point whichmay conveniently be placed under the lamp 121. Motor 125 is controlled-by the movement of lever 100 which is responsive to the horizontalcomponent of the missiles direction as described above. A positionalservomotor system may be used to transform positional information of thelever to corresponding motion of the motor. The entire lbase 120 ishinged along line 126 and the base is attached to string 45 which movesthe projector unit up and down in the same manner as the miniature ball38 was moved.

Fig. 18 shows the viewing screen 118 and shows the green 40 and othercomponents that would normally appear on a golf course.

The opera-tion of the various components has Ialready been described.The operation of the assembled game 4apparatus is as follows: With ythecomponents in the position shown in Fig. l and with lug 57 in theposition shown at 57A holding contacts 62 open, the ball 20 is impelledtoward target 24, displacing it Iand moving it to the right as shown inFig. l, closing contacts 63 and lcausing pawl 33 to Abe moved alongratchet bar 34, and

engage one of itslteeth, When the target 2.4 closes con# tacts 63, motor52A is started and the endless belt 55 starts to move asindicated by thearrow. During this time interval bar 35 positions cam 80 (coupled by bar39) which is retained in its actuated position by pafwl l85. When theball hits the tanget, a sensing vpin (112 or 103) is elevatedfdue eitherto electromagnetic action or to air pressure. A short time intervalafter this preliminary setting, lug 58 on vendless belt 55 makes contactwith linger 64 and normalizing lever 105 (Figure 9) is withdrawn to theright, permitting lever 100 to move into contact with the raised sensingpin. In a similar manner another set of sensing pins positions a leverwhich is proportional to the height of Ithe impact thereby positioningslide member 93 on bar 90.

Soon after the conclusion of the second Itime interval, lug 58 makescont-act With the right hand end of target base 26 fand slowly moves ittoward its original starting position. During this movement pawl 33pulls rack 34 with it and bar is' pulled over cam 80, the roller 91riding over .the top cam face. This action moves the miniature ball 38in a path 'which is related to the trajectory that the ball would havetaken in free llight out of doors. When the lug 58 has returned Ithetarget to its original position, contacts 63 are opened but the motor52A continues to run because contacts 62 are still closed. As lug 58continues to move it makes contact 'with a second nger 60 (which isconnected to a switch which actuates solenoid 87 and also causesIactuation of bar 105 in unit 31) and moves it downwardly, therebynormalizing all the remaining components Within the sensing and controlunit. Lug 58 continues to move until itV reaches the position indicatedby 57A in Fig. 1 yat which time contacts 62 are opened and the motor isstopped. When nger 60 was moved downwardly, the ball 38 was moved backto its original starting position and nowjall components have beennormalized andthe game apparatus is in condition for a -secondoperation.

In order to hide the target 24, =a series of strings 127 may be drapedin front of the target and secured to base 37. These strings may hemountedgclose together and may be printed by spray means to show apicture of fa playing Ufield as would be seen by a player standing atthe tee 21.

While there have been described and illustrated specific embodiments ofthe game apparatus, it will be obvious that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the ield ofIthe invention which should be limited only by the scope of the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lgame apparatus of the character described comprising; a bodilymovable target adapted to intercept a propelled missile land to bedisplaced from ya starting position by the impact of the missilethereupon; position sensing means on the target which sense the impactposition of the missile thereon; control means selectively set,responsive to the 'actuation of the position sensing means, to positionsrepresenting lthe horizontal and vertical components of the missileimpact position on the target; a cam, its position being adjustable soas to vary its effective contour and -this adjusted position beingeffected in response to the displacement of the tanget from its startingposition; power driven means actuated in response to the displacement ofthe target; fa display means positioned by said control means and saiddispl-ay means engaging also the eiective contour of said cam; saiddisplay means being driven by said power driven means to follow thecontour of the cam |which thereby determines the path of said displaymeans, and the path of said display means being a curve simulating thetrajectory of said missile in free ilight.

2. A game apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said display meanscomprises a missile simulating object disposed above a miniature playingfield, and said object is moved relative to said field.

3. A game apparatus as set forth in claim l wherein said display meanscomprises an optical projector and a screen and motion is applied tosaid projector to move its display relative to the screen.

4. A game apparatus of the character described cornprising; a bodilymovable target adapted to intercept a propelled missile and to bedisplaced from a starting position by the impact of the missilethereupon; position sensing means on the target which sense the impactposition of the missile thereon; control means selectively set,responsive to the actuation of the position sensing means, to positionsrepresenting the horizontal and vertical components of the missileimpact position on the target; a cam, its position being adjustable soas to vary its elective contour and this adjusted position beingeiiected in response to the displacement of the target from its startingposition; power driven means actuated in response to the displacement ofthe target; a display means positioned in horizontal direction by saidcontrol means and said display means engaging also the effective contourof said cam; said display means being driven by said power driven meansto follow the contour of the cam which thereby determines the path ofsaid display means, the path of said display means being a curvesimulating the trajectory of said missile in free ilight, and said powerdriven means returning the target from its displaced position to itsstarting position,

5. A game apparatus of the character described cornprising; a bodilymovable target adapted to intercept a propelled missile and to bedisplaced from a starting position by the impact of the missilethereupon; position sensing means on the target which sense the impactposition of the missile thereon; control means selectively set,responsive to the actuation of the position sensing means, to positionsrepresenting the horizontal and vertical components of the missileimpact position on the target; a cam, its position being adjustable soas to vary its effective contour and this adjusted position beingeiected in response to the displacement of the target from its startingposition; power driven means actuated in response to the displacement ofthe target; a display means positioned in horizontal direction by saidcontrol means and said display means engaging also the effective contourof said cam; said display means being driven by said power driven meansto follow the contour of the cam which thereby determines the path ofsaid display means, the path of said display means being a curvesimulating the trajectory of said missile in free ight; said powerdriven means resetting the target to its starting position, and meanscoacting with the target for zeroizing the position sensing meansthereon.

6. A game apparatus of the character described comprising; a bodilymovable target adapted to intercept a propelled missile and to bedisplaced from a starting position by the impact of the missilethereupon; position sensing means on the target which sense the impactposition of the missile thereon; control means selectively set,responsive to the actuation of the position sensing means, to positionsrepresenting the horizontal and vertical components of the missileimpact position on the target; means for maintaining said control meansin their set positions for a predetermined period of time; a cam, itsposition being adjustable so as to vary its eiective contour and thisadjusted position being elected in response to the displacement of thetarget from its starting position; power driven means actuated inresponse to the displace ment of the target; a display means positionedin horizontal direction by said control means and said display meansengaging also for vertical excursion the effective contour of said cam;said display means being driven by said power driven means to follow thecontour of the cam which thereby determines the path of said displaymeans, the path of said display means being a curve simulating thetrajectory of said missile in free ight, and means for resetting saidtarget and said position sensing means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS1,761,317 Strasser June 3, 1930 1,828,091 Spafford Oct. 20, 19312,784,001 Simjian Mar. 5, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 372,743 Great BritainApr. 26, 1932 e Mraz-a

